Fragrant and colorful creeping thyme is a low - maintenance groundcover , and it ’s even eatable .
A close congeneric of commonculinary thyme , creeping thyme ( Thymusserpyllum ) is a low - growing , flatness - forming , recurrent plant that is oftengrown as a groundcoverin gay areas . Easy to maintain and adaptable , creep thyme plants can accentuate garden walkways or conceal unsightlyretaining walls , but these plants also make a fantastic smoke alternative for lawns . In addition to tons of cosmetic appeal , most creep thyme miscellanea are extremely fragrant and edible .
Where to Plant Creeping Thyme
creep thyme is a various flora that can be used in dissimilar direction in landscape figure . cringe thyme is commonly grown as a groundcover and can beplanted on hillsidesto help control erosion . Creeping thyme expect lovely growing along garden walkways and flower seam borders , and it can thrive in acontainer garden . Adaptable and hardy , most varieties of creeping thyme grow perennially in growingUSDA Hardiness Zones4–9 , and these plants can tolerate a range of light conditions and territory type . What ’s more , creeping thyme plants are deer - resistant , but pollinator have it away them . Depending on your horticulture interest group , you may grow crawl thyme as an ornamental or edible or employ these plant as a drouth - resistant alternative to turf grass .
How and When to Plant Creeping Thyme
Most gardeners turn creeping thyme from nursery plants purchase at local garden centers , but creeping thyme can also be grown from plant divisions , root word cutting , or seed . If you ’re growing creep thyme from baby’s room starts , put the plants in garden seam in fountain after the risk of hoarfrost has choke . Creeping thyme plants can grow as individual plant , but they wait even more enchanting when planted together as a bloom groundcover or lawn alternative . When produce multiple grovel thyme plant together , space them about 12 inch apart so they have plentifulness of room to grow .
Creeping Thyme Care Tips
Creeping thyme is a broken - sustentation plant that does n’t demand much fuss . base creep thyme plants can manage a honorable deal of pes traffic when planted as a groundcover . However , the plants are more sensitive to wear and tear when the weather is dry . If you ’ve ever grow culinary thyme or other Mediterranean herbs , you ’ll in all probability have success with creeping thyme .
Light
Like many other herbs , creep thyme raise best in full sun ; the plants should obtain about6 to 8 hoursof shiny light source daily . Creeping thyme plants can also grow in part shade , but they wo n’t flower as prolifically .
Soil and Water
Creeping thyme abide a range of grease and can even grow in nutritive - poor earth . However , these plant produce well in well - drain stain with apH of 6.5 to 7.5 .
As with other Mediterranean herbs , creeping thyme does n’t wish besotted foot and can be sensible to overwatering . However , these plant must be watered regularly , especially in hot atmospheric condition . For best issue , H2O creeping thyme plants about once every7 to 10 days , allowing the territory to dry out out a bit between waterings .
Temperature and Humidity
Most varieties of creeping thyme are cold - sturdy . In spicy , wry weather , creeping thyme plants can be frail , so you might want to shorten foundation traffic on creeping thyme plant life during the oestrus of summertime .
Fertilizer
Creeping thyme is a light feeder . It normally does n’t need surplus fertilizer if youamend the soil with compostprior to planting . If you desire to give your industrial plant an redundant boost , fertilize creeping thyme plants with a slow - release , organic fertilizer in saltation , following the product instructions .
Pruning and Harvesting
Creeping thyme can become woody as it ages , but you may preclude this by cut back the plants throughout the year . For salutary consequence , lightly hack back creeping thyme plants in spring and again after the flowers fade . In autumn , do a more thorough pruning and cut pussyfoot thyme plants back by half to regenerate their growth and encourage fork . To enjoy creeping thyme as an comestible , make unnecessary the prunings and use them bracing or dried inyour best-loved recipes . If call for , you may also reap a few stems from the creeping thyme plants throughout the summertime grow time of year . crop creeping thymein the other break of the day before the sun is high overhead to get the best - season herbs .
Potting and Repotting Creeping Thyme
mouse thyme can grow in containers , but they must have fantabulous drainage . In addition to using a container with drain holes , add perliteto adept - quality potting grunge . The roots and works expand to the perimeter of the corporation in time , so the exact size of the container is n’t vital . If the flora outgrow its container , repot in a container that is 2 inch wider and filled with novel pot sensitive , or thin sections with roots and murder them from the container . imbed the removed section elsewhere or give them to friends .
Pests and Problems
Like other fragrant herbaceous plant , crawl thyme is naturally repellant to many garden pests , but it can become woody with age . you could forbid this by pruning the plant at least once a year . These plants also become dry if they do n’t incur enough water or if wintertime are in particular harsh . You may be capable to rejuvenate the plant with pruning ; however , pussyfoot thyme plant life only experience about five years , and flora of course become dry out out as they reach the end of their life cycle .
observe creeping thyme in soggy soil is a formula for disaster . If your plants are initiate to shrink and turn chicken , there ’s a practiced luck they ’ve been overwatered and may be developingroot rot . Avoid this by sustain the thyme plants inwell - enfeeble soiland irrigate them only when the soil starts to feel ironical .
Spider mitesare more mutual when creep thyme plants are develop indoors , but these pesky insects can also come about on outdoor thyme plants . Spider mitescan be well manage with organic insecticidal soap orneem oil .
Credit: Matthew Benson
Propagating Creeping Thyme
The prosperous mode to disperse creep thyme is throughplant division . Established plant spread and produce root wherever they tinct the priming coat . apply a sharp twist to cut sections in summer or other fall . Replant them in a prepared bed immediately or pot up small composition to maturate larger before transplanting them to the garden .
Another way to pass around creep thyme is throughstem cut . In late summertime , use sharp trimmer to cut 2 - column inch incision of semi - ripe stems from a plant . take any foliage from the bottom one-half of the press cutting , dim them in settle down hormone , and insert them into small tidy sum of planting spiritualist . Keep the planting medium moist ; the shank should develop roots in about two weeks .
Harvest the dustlike , tiny cum from an effected cower thyme flora by cutting portion of a theme that contains the dry cum pod and crushing it over a objet d’art of paper in an region with no idle words . The semen necessitate a period ofcold stratificationbefore being sown outside in late spring when the temperature are consistently in the high sixty . Do n’t report the seeds with grime . They need sunlight to bourgeon , whether you seed directly in the garden or give them a caput start indoors .
Types of Creeping Thyme
There are several types of creeping thyme , including salmagundi with pink , royal , or white efflorescence , and some types grow a little taller than others . The plants are hardy in Zones 4–9 and have similar growing needs .
Common Creeping Thyme
A gross choice forgarden bordersand walk , common creeping thyme(Thymus serpyllum)produces an abundance of pinkish - purple flowers that are highly attractive to bee and butterflies . This ground - hugging plant rarely produce over 3 column inch high and can quickly open over 12 inches wide of the mark .
White Flowering Creeping Thyme
Most varieties of creep thyme have lavender - tinge prime , but white efflorescence creeping thyme ( Thymus serpyllum‘Albus ’ ) can be a fun choice formoon gardensand ornamental beds . A relatively rare type of mouse thyme , clean flowering creeping thyme blooms throughout summer . industrial plant can stretch up to 5 inches tall when mature .
Elfin Creeping Thyme
A top pick forxeriscape gardens , elfin creeping thyme ( Thymus serpyllum‘Elfin ’ ) gasconade tiny , oval leave of absence and pinkish - violet flowers . Commonly grown as a groundcover , this creeping thyme variety look spectacular in containers and get to only 3 inches tall .
Frequently Asked Questions
Creeping thyme acquire a while to become give , and the plants usually do n’t grow much during their first yr . However , establish plants can spread quickly and extend 12 to 18 column inch wide by their third year .
Yes . Creeping thyme is a hardy plant that can service as a grass option , and you could certainly walk on it . However , these plants are more susceptible to harm during hot and ironic conditions , so limit foot dealings on the plants during summer heat waves .
